July 2, 2006

Clean and Unclean

Mark's story of the woman with the hemorrhage, contained in today's gospel, is a brilliant story of reversal. According to Jewish law and belief, her touching of Jesus ought to have transmitted her uncleanness to him. Instead, his power makes her well.

The world can seem entropic; it seems to tend toward the worse. It's easy to see how often the corruption of evil infects and ruins our good intentions. These are all symptoms of a world made tired and old by the effects of original sin.

And yet the touch of Christ not only transforms illness into wellness, but also destroys the power of evil itself to corrupt others into its downward spiral. And what else do we celebrate in the sacraments but this same touch of Christ?

O.k., that's probably enough metaphors for one day!

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